Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 77/100 (GOOD)

2022 Volkswagen Passat Reliability Report

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat has good reliability, but rear brakes that wear unevenly and a turbo engine that burns oil are the problems to check.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

45.7per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$639

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,150

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity61/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact100/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity77/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Good standing with no federal recalls, but owners report rear brakes wearing unevenly and a turbo engine that burns oil.

Top Issues to Watch

SERVICE BRAKES (3)
LANE DEPARTURE (2)
ENGINE (2)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Post-Redesign (Year 8)

2022 is year 8 of the Eighth generation (B8).

Redesigned for the 2015 model year.
Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
8th generation Passat (US).

What this means for buyers

Well into the generation cycle — most design and manufacturing issues should be resolved by now.

2015: Eighth generation (B8) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2022: This Model Year

2022 is year 8 of the Eighth generation (B8).

Should You Buy the 2022 Volkswagen Passat?

Good is the standing here. This Passat ranks above average among 2022 sedans and sits in the middle of the five scored Passat years. Owners filed 11 complaints, and federal recall records list none. The 2021 rates about the same, with more complaints and one recall. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs for the model above the class figure.

Rear brakes draw the most complaints. A rear caliper appears to stick, so one pad wears to the rotor while the other barely wears. A dragging noise comes first. One owner found the rear pads nearly gone at just over 20,000 miles, and others had repeat repairs between 40,805 and 59,631 miles. Two owners report the 2.0-liter turbo burning oil, about a quart every 1000 to 1500 miles in one case. Two more describe lane assist jerking the car out of its lane over tar or tire marks.

Ask for rear brake service records and check the oil level on a test drive. Try the lane assist on a road with patched pavement.

See also the 2021 Volkswagen Passat for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Acceptable reliability score
+Low major repair risk (9%)
+No recalls issued

Cons

−Above-average repair costs for its class
−Above-average complaint rate for Sedan
−SERVICE BRAKES: Rear brakes wear out early and unevenly (3 complaints)

Compare 2022 Volkswagen Passat With

2022 Subaru Legacy

Reliability: 77/100

Good

2022 Genesis G80

Reliability: 70/100

Good

Common Problem Categories

Other

HIGH RISK

SERVICE BRAKES (3)
LANE DEPARTURE (2)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2022 Volkswagen Passat — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

45.7

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 17.8

LowAvgHigh

High

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 4/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2022 Volkswagen Passat? Check its history first

Service brakes problems lead owner complaints about the 2022 Volkswagen Passat, and 0 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2022 Volkswagen Passat NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 3/5Passenger: 3/5

Rollover risk: 10.7%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Advanced Belt Feature (Standard)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Not Available)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Volkswagen PassatRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$639

vs $526 avg for midsize cars

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.4

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Passat

$639

Category Avg

$526

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

28 MPG

Running cost: $2,800/yr

Fuel + repair

24 city / 36 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2022 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Passat 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	24	36	28	$2,150

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2022 Volkswagen Passat.

Inspect both rear brakes and compare inner and outer pad thickness at each wheel; uneven wear points to a sticking caliper.
Drive slowly with the windows down and listen for dragging or grinding from the rear wheels.
Ask for service records showing rear caliper, rotor, or pad replacements, and check what any extended warranty covers.
Check the oil level on the dipstick and ask the seller how often they add oil between changes.
Look under the car for oil leaks around the oil pan and timing cover.
On a highway drive, watch whether lane assist jerks the wheel at tar lines or tire marks.
Slow down from 42 to 30 mph several times and feel for steering that suddenly stiffens.
Brake firmly from highway speed and feel for shaking, then test the screen and speakers for blackouts or static.

2022 Volkswagen Passat Common Problems by Component

11 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

SERVICE BRAKES (3)LANE DEPARTURE (2)ENGINE (2)STEERING (2)POWER TRAIN (1)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1)

SERVICE BRAKES

3 complaints

Rear brakes wear out early and unevenly. The reports describe a rear caliper that appears to stick, so one pad wears down to the rotor while the other pad at that wheel barely wears. A dragging noise is the usual first sign. The damage can spread to the rotors and then show up again on the opposite rear wheel. One report finds rear pads nearly worn out at just over 20,000 miles. Others describe repeat repairs between 40,805 and 59,631 miles, and the extended warranty did not cover the rotors or pads.

3 complaints total

LANE DEPARTURE

2 complaintsSafety-related

Lane assist can steer hard and without warning. It reads tire marks or tar on the road as lane lines and jerks the car out of its lane, nearly causing a sideswipe. The dealer said the sensitivity cannot be turned down. A separate crash-related report blames front brake assist for failing to stop the car, with major front-end damage and deployed airbags at 50k miles.

2 complaints total1 crash

ENGINE

2 complaints

The 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder burns too much oil. One report puts the rate at about 1 quart every 1000 to 1500 miles, and another calls the oil use a known defect of this engine. Related repairs mentioned include the oil pan, timing cover, and PCV, all replaced by 80,000 miles. Owners worry that running low on oil could damage the turbo and lead to repair bills of several thousand dollars.

2 complaints total

STEERING (2 complaints)

STEERING

2 complaints

Power assist can cut out for a moment as the car slows, leaving the wheel suddenly stiff. The loss lasts about 0.7 to 1.2 seconds and happens when decelerating between 30 and 42 mph, and it has recurred three times. Another report filed in this category mostly covers other problems: oil top-offs, static from the speakers, a screen that goes black for hours, and shaking when braking at highway speed. In both reports the dealer found nothing wrong.

2 complaints total

POWER TRAIN (1 complaints)

POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

2024-07-15

While driving car began to jerk and had odd smell. Stopped at a Midas to have car looked at and all of the transmission fluid leaked out. Techs at Midas state the gasket that hold the fluid in came out and caused all the fluid to leak out. Had no issues while driving previous to this, this just happened randomly in the middle of our drive. We did jot hit or run over anything and the road we were traveling on was in good paved condition.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1 complaints)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

2021-11-15

The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that whenever the vehicle was parked, all 4 doors would automatically unlock. There were no warning lights on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and diagnosed with no failure being found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90.

When Do 2022 Volkswagen Passat Problems Start?

Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.

20,000–59,631 milesUneven rear brake wear

Best & Worst Volkswagen Passat Years

Best Volkswagen Passat Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Good

2021

1Recalls

18Complaints

Good

2022

(Current Model)

0Recalls

11Complaints

Good

2019

1Recalls

12Complaints

Volkswagen Passat Years to Avoid

No Volkswagen Passat years are statistical outliers in our data.

Scores stay between 71 and 78 across 5 scored model years.

See full Volkswagen Passat years-to-avoid analysis

Volkswagen Passat Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Volkswagen Passat reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	71/100	Good
2019	77/100	Good
2020	75/100	Good
2021	78/100	Good
2022	77/100	Good

Volkswagen Passat Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2022(selected)	77/100	-1	Good	0	11
2021	78/100	+3	Good	1	18
2020	75/100	-2	Good	3	15
2019	77/100	+6	Good	1	12
2018	71/100	—	Good	4	45

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2022 Volkswagen Passat reliable?

Yes, it has a good reliability standing and ranks above average among 2022 sedans. Owners filed 11 complaints and federal recall records list no recalls. It sits in the middle of the five scored Passat years. Independent repair-cost data shows yearly repairs costing more than the class figure.

What are the most common problems with the 2022 Volkswagen Passat?

Rear brake wear is the top complaint, with three reports. Lane assist, engine oil use, and steering assist each have two reports. Owners describe a sticking rear caliper, a turbo engine that burns oil, lane assist that jerks the car, and power steering that cuts out briefly while slowing.

Does the 2022 Volkswagen Passat have brake problems?

Some owners report them. A rear caliper appears to stick, wearing one pad down to the rotor while the other pad barely wears. A dragging noise is the first sign. Reports range from just over 20,000 miles to repeat repairs between 40,805 and 59,631 miles, and one extended warranty did not cover rotors or pads.

Does the 2022 Volkswagen Passat burn oil?

Two owners say the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder uses too much oil. One puts it at about 1 quart every 1000 to 1500 miles. Repairs mentioned include the oil pan, timing cover, and PCV. Owners worry that low oil could damage the turbo, so check the level and ask for repair records.

Is the 2022 Volkswagen Passat better than the 2021?

The two rate about the same, both with a good standing. The 2021 has more complaints, 18 against 11, and one recall, while the 2022 has none. The gap is small, so compare the brake and oil service records of the specific cars you are considering.

Don’t buy a 2022 Volkswagen Passat without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2022 Volkswagen Passat

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2022 Volkswagen Passat does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on complaint severity (61/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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